A great read! I truly enjoyed this novel set in the financial district of Wall Street. The family characters were strong ambitious individuals each striving to make a healthy living. Beatrice in particular was a lady with big ambitions of becoming a stockbroker in an all-inclusive men’s world. With an intuition that brought success, it also affected the relationship with her stockbroker boyfriend Nathaniel. Written in a manner that both educates and informs the reader of the Stock Market into the complexities of investing. What goes up must come down - and what a crash it was.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Lake Union for their APC in exchange for an honest review.

Set against the backdrop of the late 1920's in New York City, this novel tells the story of one extraordinary woman's desire to join the male-dominated ranks of stock brokers on Wall Street. It's packed full of financial talk which, while I didn't completely understand, I did appreciate as it made the characters and the story feel authentic. The author put a lot of research into the markets of the time and the people who were recognizable figures of the day.

I liked the choice of lead character for this book. The author wanted to discuss the stock market crash of 1929 and the events leading up to it, and she was able to do that while indluding issues of class and gender through the lens of a highly intelligent young woman trying to make her own mark in a world that was not open to her at that time in history. Reading about her struggles and the choices that she made to balance her professional and personal life felt both authentic to the time and still relevant today.

This story does heavily emphasize the stock market and there is a great deal of detailed information about financial data that I, admittedly, did not completely understand. I didn't feel, however, that this detracted from the plot; but I do think that someone with a financial background or an interest in such things would find this book even more rewarding. I was able to follow the basics, but the specifics might have added to the story even more. There was enough of a balance, though, that if you don't love numbers and data, I think you'll still be ok to read this.

Bottom line: if you enjoy historical fiction set in the 1920's, strong female leads trying to bend traditional gender roles, and especially if you're interested in finance or business; this is an enjoyable read worth checking out.

This book drew me in with the character depth & the details of the stock market. Truly enjoyed the main characters tenacity during this timeframe in history.

I found the setting of this book very interesting, as I had never read a book set in this time period focusing on Wall Street. However, I found the characters in this book quite annoying at times.

Short sellers in the stock market have always been cast as villains - from James Bond’s Casino Royale to the GameStop short sellers in the news.

Let Samantha Greene Woodruff introduce you to her heroine - a Jewish protagonist with a brain for numbers from a poor immigrant family in the Lower East Side. Not your average stock broker, right? Certainly not one you’d expect to be a protagonist after the bad rap short sellers have been given or one you’d expect from a story set in the 1920s! Woodruff upends our preconceived notions and pulls it off with ease.

The novel opens with the scene on Black Tuesday (Oct. 29, 1929) and readers are instantly aware of the devastating effects of financial loss. I’d studied this before and even taught it in Canadian Grade 11 Social Studies. Studying the facts doesn’t put you in the shoes on the ground to experience the psychological, emotional and physical trauma experienced that day. Woodruff places readers there.

The novel then hops back to three years before the crash and readers are introduced to the Abramovitz twins - Beatrice and Jake - and follow them as their lives parallel the fluctuations of the stock market. It’s not difficult for readers to begin rooting for Bea when we discover how unfairly she’s treated by her mother. Bea has a dream of becoming a stock broker on Wall Street, but society isn’t ready for her yet. Even more disappointing for Bea, is that her Russian parents want the twins to play it safe with their future after all the sacrifices they’ve made to give Bea and Jake opportunities.

Woodruff writes to show readers that despite the 1920s being a time when women’s rights were soaring, the early days of women in Wall Street weren’t as welcoming. Every immigrant group struggles to establish themselves, but Woodruff’s examination of the Jewish immigrants in the early part of the 20th century is one that hasn’t often been highlighted in historical fiction. It was a refreshing change.

Woodruff definitely accomplishes her goal of writing to expose the complex morality of wealth. I was lost in her well-researched story examining perseverance and trusting oneself. I have no doubt data nerds will love this one, as will historical fiction lovers and those who love to learn as they read.

I was gifted this copy by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Trade Off
by Samantha Greene Woodruff
Pub Date: Oct 08 2024

Bea Abramovitz has a gift for math and numbers. With her father, she studies the burgeoning Wall Street market’s stocks and patterns in the financial pages. After college she’s determined to parlay her talent for the prediction game into personal and professional success. But in the 1920s, in a Lower East Side tenement, opportunities for women don’t just come knocking. Bea will have to create them.

It’s easier for her golden-boy twin brother, Jake, who longs to reclaim all their parents lost after fleeing the pogroms in Russia to come to America. Well intentioned but undisciplined, Jake has a charm that can carry him only so far on Wall Street. So Bea devises a plan. They’ll be a secret team, and she’ll be the brains behind the broker. As Jake’s reputation, his heedless ego, and the family fortune soar, Bea foresees catastrophe: an impending crash that could destroy everything if she doesn’t finally take control.

Inspired by the true story of a pioneering investment legend, The Trade Off is a powerful novel about identity, sacrifice, family loyalties, and the complex morality of money.

Bea loves numbers and aspires to be a broker on Wall Street. However, in the 1920s, female brokers are unheard of and fighting a losing battle, she devises a plan with her brother, Jake. Jake gets hired as a broker and Bea is the brains behind the decisions he makes in his role. With the tumultuous stock market that only Bea foresees, she has to make plans to save her family's fortunes while battling her dubious family and friends.

I enjoyed the strong, resilient and self-believing character of Bea, how she backed herself even when no one was in her corner. I didn't enjoy how she continually picked up the pieces after Jake and he seemingly made mistake after mistake with no consequences.

Absolutely enthralling. Bea is such an endearing main character. I loved the relationship between her and Nate, as well as the beautiful friendships Bea formed on Wall Street. This book truly kept me on the edge of my seat.

The Trade Off, by Samantha Greene Woodruff, is a fascinating novel set in 1920's NYC. Bea is a brilliant woman who wants to make her fortune on Wall Street. But women weren't exactly welcome on Wall Street back then, so she enlists her brother in a daring plan. Together, they have a front row seat to the Crash of 1929. As someone who worked on Wall Street for years, I absolutely devoured this novel! Beautiful written, and the author's attention to the historical record shined through in every page. Highly recommend!!!

“The Trade Off” by Samantha Greene Woodruff is a great story about perseverance and the importance of believing in yourself despite the challenges of life. The story is about a brilliant young woman from an immigrant Jewish family whose dream is to become a stockbroker in the 1920s. It is fascinating to learn about Wall Street at that time and the lead up to the crash of 1929. This is a compelling look into the struggles of being a woman who wants a career in banking at that time is our history. This book ultimately is about the resilience of family, love, and the strong bonds of friendship. This book will appeal to many age groups and to anyone who likes to read about extraordinary women!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An inspiring histfic tale of Bea Abramovitz, a brilliant Jewish math genius and stockbroker wannabe, just as the market crashes in 1929. Readers who love to read about exceptional women will devour this.

The story of Bea Abramovitz is central to a novel that can be inspirational for teenagers as well as an older audience. Bea is a mathematical genius obsessed by the movement of the stock market. Her dream is to become a broker, but that world is closed to women, especially Jewish women. Despite a lowly position in a brokerage firm, Bea continues to study and persevere.

Woodruff had sprinkled lots of lighter material in the novel, including the supportive friendships of women. There are clear insights into the social structure of America during the 1920’s.

Bea begins to take on new challenges, such as real estate and expanding her family’s markets. But the year is 1929, so the reader is alert to the impending doom and tumult in the stock market. But, Bea ‘s extraordinary intellect ultimately triumphs.

Thank you Netgalley for this novel that I can recommend to multiple age groups. It will serve as a great jumping off point in many women’s studies classes.

This was enjoyable. I think Woodruff is also a talented writer. I enjoyed the setting and the themes explored. Solid book.

The Trade Off by S. G. Woodruff, published by Lake Union Publishing is a historical novel.
A story about sacrifice, loyalty and moralty.
The story is set in the 1920ies and tells the story of Bea and her win brother Jack.
Bea is the mathematic talent in the family. With a knack for stocks and patterns she could have a brilliant future. But her father favores her twin brother, golden boy Jack.
A wonderful book, quiet and touching, stays with he reader long after finishing the book.

I’ve read a number of historical novels set in the roaring twenties but never one with the plot centered around the stock market crash. That made this book unique. It was fascinating to read about the rise of the market and the impact it had on the wealthy and the middle class. I enjoyed the fictional characters especially the main story line of a woman trying to become a broker.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a date and honest review.

My first #ARC review! How exciting! #TheTradeOff by Samantha Greene Woodruff is the story of Bea Abramovitz, the ambitious and whip-smart daughter of Jewish immigrants who is determined to use her gift for math and numbers on Wall Street as a broker. But women are not offered a seat at the table on Wall Street in the 1920s. She’ll have to make her own opportunities instead by forming a secret team with her charming, well-intentioned but undisciplined twin brother, Jake. He’ll be the broker, she’ll be the brains. What could go wrong?

I am a BIG fan of historical fiction and I love books about the 1920s. I knew about the stock market crash of 1929, but I wasn’t terribly familiar with it. Now I want to know everything about it! I’m not a numbers gal, but I was invested (see what I did there) in the story of the stock market. I was on the edge of my seat even though I knew what was ultimately going to happen (because…history). That’s why I love historical fiction so much - you know the big events and yet authors can still find ways to tell an intriguing story! Bea has all the gumption needed for a strong female lead. I'm a sucker for a strong female heroine who is making a place for herself in a male-dominated world. I cheered for her from the very first page.

This was well done and I loved reading a historical fiction book that wasn’t focused on a war! It was a fresh new take on historical fiction that didn't add to the already saturated field of WWII novels. And the Author’s Note at the end is so good. I'm glad I didn't skip it.

This book gave me subtle Thoroughly Modern Millie vibes. I loved the friendships, the budding romance, and the family bonds. My only small criticism is that there is a lot of 1920s slang that felt a bit campy to me at times.

4.5 rounded up to 5
The Trade Off is the newest book by Samantha Greene Woodruff. It follows protagonist, Bea, from her life at "free" college in the poor immigrant area of New York to her rise and fall (and maybe rise again?) on Wall Street.
I liked the women in the story best. Bea was smart but was human. I like Sophie with her drive and sense of fashion, and her new friends Henny and Milly. Jake and Nate seemed a bit more flat. I liked how Bea's parents evolved over time too.
Even though you knew the crash was coming the anticipation really made me anxious which was clever.
If you like historical fiction and strong female characters, you'll love this book.